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you’ll get a marvellous insight into my Buckingham novels… and no doubt plenty of backstage and behind-the-scenes info too… Absolutely unmissable! Described as "Downton with dance" by his agent, world rights for the third and fourth books in the Buckingham series were bought by senior editor Sarah Bauer from Kerr MacRae of MacRae LPA. Now as many of us know, this author can dance but does his talent on the ballroom floor extend to the written word?
Whilst it may sound a little like a finalé, I’m sure our characters wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace if I didn’t continue telling their stories, especially with war drawing ever closer and lives set to change in so many ways… Here’s another spoiler: there’s still more to come! Their best result on the competition circuit was in November 2003 when they won the IDTA Classic in Brighton. An Audience With Anton Du Beke’ runs from May 5th to May 22nd – book now, send in your questions, and don’t miss out!Raymond De Guise is home on leave from Dunkirk and is so busy helping out elsewhere, he’s not striking the right balance with his wife, Nancy.
This was exceptionally well written and being a dancer myself, I could imagine myself in the ballroom with my flouncy dresses on and gliding around the ballroom. This latest book gives us a glimpse into the past where we find a young Raymond struggling at the very beginning of his dancing career when dancing competitions were the main focus in his life and winning was all important! R F Delderfield, A J Cronin, or Howard Spring, the likes of which I haven't seem until I started reading Anton's books.
Du Beke has also appeared in a number of Children in Need and Christmas Specials of Strictly Come Dancing. I was immediately swept up into the glamour of the ballroom and the dramas of London wartime during the blitz. Just imagine Archie Adams striking up his band as we step back in time, together, into the Grand Ballroom at the Buckingham Hotel – and we dance like it’s 1938! As the skies split apart and bombs rain down on London, it's all the staff at the famed Buckingham Hotel can do to keep their guests in the luxury they're accustomed to, and evoke the magic of the Grand ballroom for them each night. His attention to detail was impeccable, he does an amazing job of capturing what the Buckingham Hotel and World War II was like during those times.
The fourth in the series, and although I'd only read the first one so I'd got a bit to catch up on having missed books 2 and 3, it really didn't take too long to get thoroughly into where and who the characters were. It took a little while to familiarise myself with the characters as there are a number and I had not read the earlier books in the Buckingham Hotel series. Anton Du Beke - the King of Ballroom, Strictly Come Dancing royalty, and household name - joins us in Bath for what will inevitably be an entertaining night. My publishers inform me that they’ll do their best to organise a book signing tour again, but of course, with restrictions in place and Strictly in the coming months, this could prove to be a challenge! As it was set during World War II and was partly featured within the book, I did find some parts really emotional.
Each book can be read as a standalone story, but they do indeed form a series, set in those tumultuous years leading up to the outbreak of World War II. Having said that, I recommend you do at some point – they’re tremendous books, even if I do say so myself! Populated with some lovely characters from both the housemaids lounge and the resident dancing ensemble this novel is big on the wartime spirit that saw so many through the bleakest of times.
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